SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

Hogs, in the last week alone, I've seen people that want to get a body for every lens they own, those that only change lenses in a CLEAN ROOM, and those that make you think that if you just once take a lens off outside, with the camera on, your sensor will instantly turn into a fuzzy wuzzy caterpillar look alike! :lol:

So for the sake of those that may not know, let's dispel some myths.

1, how likely is dirt to get on your sensor? 2, the mirror blocks about 90% of the direct dust path. 3, the shutter curtain COMPLETELY covers the sensor area and is ONLY open for as little as 1/8000 sec on a sunny 16 day. Just how fast can Fuzzy Wuzzy move? 4, I change my lenses a LOT. Inside, outside, in the rain, I dry gassy fields, everywhere. I'm admitting this, I have NOT cleaned my sensor since I bought my camera 5 years ago. It's clean enough for me!
How do YOU keep a sensor clean, does it work?

Is a dirty sensor a myth? Is a spotless sensor a professional necessity? Is a Fuzzy Wuzzy electrical charge just in the minds of some?

Unleash the Titans, the Physicists and the Photographers, both young and old!! :lol:
SS

GoofyNewfie Loc: Kansas City

I think some people like to shoot on white backgrounds at f/22.

SonnyE Loc: Communist California, USA

I had never given my sensor a second thought,
until the other day....
So I locked up the mirror (D3300), and followed my on screen instructions.
I peered in at the Mysterous sensor....
And put on my Magna-Visor and peered in...
Humm.... veeery interesting! :shock:
Not a speck, not nothin.

For a short while now, I have had my camera set to clean the sensor on start up, and on shut down. (Found that in my menu settings)
Frankly, I think Marge is right on this one.
"If it ain't broke, don't fix it."

I struggle enough with sharpness. I'll be damned if I'm going to use a Brillo Pad on the sensor.
YMMV
(That's: Your Mileage May Vary. For the acronym challenged.)

Mr. MYfeeder the other day. Sorry HE chose the white background.

(Download)

photon56 Loc: North America

When I see spots in my image, I clean the sensor. Rocket blower first, then Sensor wipe. I've had to do this twice now in the 8 1/2 months of ownership.

On the other hand, LR does a good job removing the spots.

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

Photon, I take it you will not tolerate even one spot on your sensor? Cleaning the sensor every four months seems excessive to me. I guess it all depends on ones tolorance levels. And as you probably know, I'm a very tolerant person. You can tell by my cool as a cucumber demeanor! :lol:

In LR, are you talking about using the clone tool, or some other nethod??

Thanks. ;-)
SS

Racin17 Loc: Western Pa

I shot a few shots the other day. A waving flag against a bright blue sky and I noticed a few large spots. Went away in paintshop. I did do a before and after shot when I cleaned my sensor. Spots before no spots now. Im happy now.

OddJobber Loc: Portland, OR

Use only prime lenses and a different body for each lens. Problem solved.

n3eg Loc: West coast USA

Using my micro four thirds camera, yeah, mirrorless with the sensor seeing daylight every time I change a lens, I have had no dust. I did have to clean it once because I blew on it and got something on it, and cleaning was easier than I expected.

Of course, I don't take photos of construction sites and dust devils...

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

I clean my sensor when it gets dirty - could be once every 6 months, or more or less frequently. At the very least, I bring in my camera for CLA service every 12 months - (clean lube adjust), where they clean the sensor, focusing screen and mirror, replace the little adhesive strips to collect dust and particles inside the sensor box etc.

The prime contributor to sensor dust is the rear element of the lens and the rear lens cap. I keep both of those scrupulously clean, in particular the cap. It is plastic and is a dust magnet.

I can tolerate a bit of dust, but when it gets bad I either clean it or bring it in.

warrior Loc: Paso Robles CA

I turn camera off when I change lens's.

sbesaw Loc: Boston

Best way I have found to clean Mark II

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lrdkFXsr5Us

CharlesA Loc: New Jersey

Gene,

Good tips to keep in mind. Telescoping zoom lenses will pump air w/dust in and out of the lens barrel then right onto the sensor when it gets charged. Also the body itself is not airtight allowing very fine dust to enter the chamber.
So it goes to follow that keeping the camera body and lenses as dirt and dust-free as you can will be a big help to minimize sensor dust.

As far as how often to clean, a lot depends on how much you're shooting. My outdoor shooting goes down in the winter (it's about 20F degrees as I type) so I'll probably wet clean once a month but I will use my static brush maybe every other day. When springtime comes I'll wet clean maybe twice a month.

To each his own in this department but some sensors seem to attract more dust than others. My D610 needs cleaning more than my D3200. These are the products I have been using for some time now:
http://www.copperhillimages.com/index.php?pr=Copper_Hill_Products

Charles

The Villages Loc: The Villages, Florida

I think for most of us, sensor spot problems are minimal, as they don't normally appear unless you are shooting at zoomed-in settings and at major closed aperatures. ie. 200mm @F32....and then mostly against a solid backgrounds.

If I can't see it, it aint broke.

CharlesA Loc: New Jersey

Correct, but if I'm shooting a landscape with blue skies and white clouds or macro subjects, dust will be apparent even at f/8 or f/10. As I said, to each his own, sensor dust won't even show up if you're shooting wide open most of the time (f/2.8 to f/5.6).

Charles

Cdouthitt Loc: Traverse City, MI

I've owned 5 olympus bodies since 2007...not one has ever had a dust problem...perhaps it's the built in dust reduction system taking care of all my bunnies...And I change lenses in the field all the time...including the beach.